Street-car fender.



w n M 5 Mm m u 7% M H A P H. M. PRATER & H. .3. WILHBLM. STREET GAR FENDER. APPLICATION FILED AUG 29 i907 Elm-889,151 I PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

H. M. PRATER & H. R. WILHELM.

STREET CAR FENDER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM M. PRATER AND HENRY R. WILHELM, OF OROOKER, MISSOURI.

STREET-CAB FENDER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 29, 1907. Serial No. 390,648.

Patented May 26, 1908.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HIRAM M. PRATER.

ingly simple and efficient device of that nature which may be readily attached to any street railway car of the ordinary type, and which includes a movable section adapted to be automatically projected forwards when a body in the path of the car is struck thereby, phllis forming a cradle into which the body a s. 1

With the above and other ends in view the invention consists in the particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter fully described, specifically claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by corresponding reference characters throughout the several views.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the fender in contracted condition, and applied to the front end of a car, Fig. 2 is a similar view of the fender extended, Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig.2, Fig. 4 is a transverse section through Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the trigger.

In its practical embodiment the fender comprises a body portion or main section 7, whose U- haped frame is secured at its free ends to the front platform of the car 8, a movable section 9, which telescopes within the main section, and a yielding buffer section 10 which is ivoted to the main section. The last-mentioned section, whose frame is likewise U-shaped and is constructed of a single metal rod, is covered by a wire netting, as shown, the interlaced strands of which are connected to the arms 11 of said frame, the bight portion 12 thereof, and the twisted wire strip 13 which connects the free ends of said arms, which latter are further connected with each other intermediate their ends by a cross-rod 14. The arms 15 of the frame of the main section 7, which is likewise constructed from a single strip of metal, are each provided with a U-shaped metal plate 16 whose flanges extend inwardly towards the center of the frame the upper flange of each plate having a pair of cars formed thereon towards its forward end between which the free end of the corresponding arm 11 is pivotally engaged. The arms of the main frame are, in turn, connected together by a crossrod 17 which carries at each end a spring 18 coiled therearound, the free inner end of each spring bearing against the corresponding arm of a trigger 19. This trigger which is W- shaped, as shown, comprises a pair of arms 20 which are connected at their outer ends to the rod 14 and are coiled at their inner ends around the rod 17, and form a central portion or'finger 21, the forward end of which is bent to form a hook 22. Owing to the provision of the s rings 18, the finger portion of the trigger wi be normally forced upwards into osition for engagement with the rear end-bar 23 of the movable frame 9, which end-bar is connected with the front end-bar 24 by a series of curved rods 25, the bight portion 26 of the main frame being provided with a series of perforations through which the rods extend. The outermost rods 25 are slidable within the Ushaped metal plates 16, while the central rod 25 carries a retractile coil-spring 27 which is connected at opposite ends to the end-bar 23 and the bight portion 26 of the main frame, the tension of said spring normally 9, outwards. The arms 11 of the buffer section 10 terminate at their rear ends in de pending fingers 28 which are disposed adjacent the corres onding arms 15 of the main section 7, whic section is further connected with the platform 8 of the car by a pair of braces 29.

In the operation of the device, the movable section is forced rearwardly, or telescoped, within the main section, against the action of the s ring 27, until the rear end-bar is engage by the hooked portion 22 of the finger 2 1 whereupon the movable section will be retained in such position. When, however, a person in the ath of the car is struck by the fender, he will be toppled thereinto and will fall directly u on the buffer section 10, which section, wil, in consequence, be depressed, thus swinging the trigger downwardly against the action of the coil-springls 18. The hook portion of the trigger w 1 forcing the movable section a thus be disengaged from the end-bar 23 of the movable frame, whereupon the latter will be immediately projected forward under the action of the spring 27, forming, with the main section, a cradle, in which the person is retained, as will be understood.

The operation and advantages of the invention are thought to be apparent from the foregoing, and further description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

The front end bar 24 of the movable section 9 of the fender is preferably provided with cushions or sleeves of rubber or other yielding material.

at is claimed, is,

1. The combination, in a fender of a main section, including a U-sha ed frame having its bight portion provided with a series of perforations; a movable section adapted to telescope with the main section, and consisting of front and rear end-bars and a series of connecting rods, said rods being slidable through said perforations; means for normally holding said movable section in projected position; means for engagement with said section, when the latter is retracted against the action of said first-mentioned means; and a buffer section pivoted at its forward end to the main section and adapted, when depressed, to release said last-mentioned means from engagement with said end-bar.

2. The combination, in a fender of a main section, including a U-shaped frame having its bight portion provided with a series of perforations; a movable section adapted to telescope with the main section, and consisting of front and rear end-bars and a series of connecting rods, said rods being slidable through said perforations; means for normally holding said movable section in projected position; means for engagement with said section, when the latter is retracted against the action of said first-mentioned means; a U-shaped plate secured to each arm of the main frame, each of said plates being provided at its upper forward end with a pair of ears; and a buffer section comprising a Ushaped frame and a covering of netting secured thereto, the free ends of the arms of said frame being pivotally engaged with said ears, said buffer section being adapted, when depressed, to release said last-mentioned means from engagement with said end-bar.

3. The combination, in a fender, of a main section; a section adapted to telescope there with and consisting of front and rear endbars and a series of rods; means for normally holding said telescoping section in extended position; a swinging trigger carried by the main section and adapted to automatically engage the rear end-bar of the t'elesco ing section when the latter is retracte against the action of said means; and a depressible member pivoted to the main section and adapted, upon actuation, to release said trigger from engagement with said end-bar. I

4. The combination, in a fender, of a main section; a section adapted to telescope therewith and consisting of front and rear endbars and a series of connecting rods; means for normally holding said telescoping section in extended position; a spring-pressed W- shaped trigger pivotally connected with the main frame and including a hooked finger adapted, upon actuation, to release said trigger from engagement with said end bar.

5. The combination, in a fender, of a U- shaped main frame adapted to be connected to the platform of a car and having its bight portion provided with a series of perfora tions; a section adapted to telescope therewith and comprising front and rear end-bars and a series of connecting rods, said rods being slidable through said perforations; means connected with the main section and telesco ing section for holding the latter norma ly in projected position; a cross-rod connecting the arms of the main section; a W- shaped trigger pivoted upon said cross-rod, and including a hooked central finger adapted for engagement with the rear end-bar of the telescoping section when the latter is retracted against the action of said means; a coil-spring located upon each endof said cross-rod and adapted to bear against the adjacent arm of sa1d trigger to hold the latter in operative position; and a buffer section pivoted at its forward ends to the main section and connected with the arms of said trigger, said buffer being adapted, upon de pression to release the trigger finger from engagement with said endbar.

In testimony whereof, we afliX our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

HIRAM M. PRATER. HENRY R. WILHELM. Witnesses:

WVILLIAM H, FIKE, T. E. DEARDEUFF. 

